The New Shirley Hall was officially opened on Sunday September 25th at approximately 12 noon by Miss Alice Pay, aged 100 in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Canterbury. Alice was for many years Sunday school superintendent at the church and so we thought it would be a fitting way of celebrating her 100th birthday, which took place only three days before the opening.

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Below is a slideshow of destruction of old hall and building of new hall - thanks to Mike Scammell for these photos

Here below is something of the history of the Shirley Hall and the events leading up to the success of the new project.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE SHIRLEY HALL 1968-2011

The original Shirley Hall was built and named in memory of Mrs Shirley Waynforth in 1968. Shirley Waynforth was the late wife of Canon Waynforth who was vicar of All Saints for many years.

Its original purpose was as a place for Sunday School and some church affiliated groups. Then in the mid seventies a growing Mother and Toddler group evolved into the All Saints Nursery School, which continues to run very successfully to this day.

Many people had great affection for the old timber frame hall but by the early years of the 21^st century it had become clear that the building was coming near to the end of its lifespan.

From about 2005 plans began to be put in place which went through various stages and redraftings. Though some progress was made, the Shirley Hall committee felt they would have to attempt a risky refurbishment of the existing structure, but then a generous grant of £100,000 from a donor secured the funds for the building you are now standing in. The overall cost of the project was approximately £207,000.

The lady and gentleman who gave the £100,000 to the church have both now died, and they wished to remain anonymous. However, the gentleman before he died asked that a poem in memory of his wife be put into the Shirley Hall. The poem you see in this display is in memory of her, in the words she gave us in her own hand.

We are also very grateful to other charities that have very generously given money to the project. These are as follows: The Diana Edgson Wright Charitable Trust, the Maurice and Hilda Laing Charitable Trust, Whitstable and Seasalter Golf Club, Chestfield Rotary Club, the family of Jean Dobbie (former manager of All Saints preschool) and Kent County Council. We have also received a large number of gifts from members of the congregation and community for which we are very grateful. Added to that the Church and Preschool ran many fundraising activities over the period from 2008 to 2011 to raise money for the new building.

All Saints Church has also given a significant amount of its reserves, funding over a quarter of the entire costs of the project, and is both the legal landlord of the property and the body which was responsible for managing the new build and for maintaining its upkeep into the future. The new building was officially opened on Sunday 25^th September 2011 by Miss Alice Pay, 100 years old, in the presence of the Lord Mayor of Canterbury.

Special thanks to Brian Barnes, Chairman of the Shirley Hall Buildings Committee, to Keith Berry, Project Manager, of Moorford Project management, and to Jenner, the name of our building contractors. Also to the 3^rd Whitstable Scout Group for accommodating the preschool during the building work in the summer term of 2011. Most importantly, thanks be to God for his goodness! Rev Simon Tillotson – Team Vicar of All Saints Whitstable